MEDIA RELEASE: PHILLIP BRITT FOUNDS RURAL FIBRE CO PTY LTD
17 January 2025
Phillip Britt founds Rural Fibre Co Pty Ltd
MORWELL, Australia – Phillip Britt, co-founder of Aussie Broadband, has announced he is founding and funding Rural Fibre Co Pty Ltd, a wholesale infrastructure fibre provider in the Gippsland region, Victoria.
Rural Fibre Co Pty Ltd (RFC) is a community-orientated wholesale infrastructure fibre provider operating primarily in Gippsland. It will focus on building fibre connections to under-served rural and regional areas.
Phil believes the current fixed wireless broadband options available to residents and businesses in the Gippsland region are insufficient.
“I’m excited by the possibility of more Gippsland residents, businesses, and enterprises being serviced by high-quality, affordable, and reliable fibre internet,” he said.
Phil will provide $10 million in funding to RFC over a 4-year period. RFC is a community orientated pursuit and may not become a profitable enterprise; however, for the greater good of the Gippsland community, investment in fibre connectivity is an essential community undertaking.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has granted RFC a carrier licence in accordance with subsection 56(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth), which is the first milestone in building the network.
RFC will employ Gippslanders to build, maintain, and operate the fibre infrastructure network. Residents and businesses will be able to connect through partner Retail Service Providers, yet to be announced.
Construction on the RFC fibre network will start in April 2025, beginning in Hazelwood North and then moving on to other localities in the Gippsland region.
“I’m really excited about starting this venture,” said Phil. “Since starting my very first RSP nearly 30 years ago, I have always strongly believed the people of Gippsland, and more widely, rural Australia, deserve great internet. Aussie Broadband was founded on that principle.
“We know that the NBN has great plans to improve fibre connections in Fibre to the Node and Fibre to the Curb areas; however, fixed wireless does not yet appear to be on the radar.
“But in my view, now is the time to invest in critical fibre infrastructure for Gippsland, particularly in those fixed wireless areas. We can’t afford for parts of this region to be left behind.”
Phil knows from deep personal experience the benefits that higher speed broadband can bring to education, employment, healthcare and social connections. He says those benefits will only be increased with the introduction of fibre infrastructure.
“I look forward to seeing the impact Rural Fibre Co will deliver for the Gippsland community, and I look forward to sharing the benefits with the residents and businesses of Gippsland alike.
“Rural Fibre Co will be built in Gippsland, by Gippslanders, for Gippslanders.”
Phil will remain on the board of Aussie Broadband as a non-executive director and will be appointed as a Special Technical Advisor. In addition to these roles, he is a longterm volunteer with Scouts Victoria and is currently Assistant Chief Commissioner for Major Events.
Further information can be found at www.ruralfibre.co Media enquiries:
Janet Granger-Wilcox
0400 981 114